Folding table



June 11, 1940. w. w. sWETT FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 8. 1939 ATT'o R N EYS WITNESS Patented June 11, 1940 STATES PATENT OFFICE Walter W. Swett,

Takoma. Park, Md.

f Application February 8, 1939, Serial No. 255,315

v 4 Claims. wiThis invention relates to folding tables and more:particularlytotables usedfor games such as table tennis-or ping pong, or for other uses such as drafting ;or theJike or, any other puro pose requiring a large flat surface, without interfering, seams therein.

Theprime object of the invention is to produce a simple yet practical and highly efiicient foldingtable. structure including acooperating pair of 'toppanels-or sections-presenting a large continuous workingarea when the table is opened and set vup for use, but being constructed and arranged, soas to be folded compactly whereby to takeup minimum .;storage,space in an out-oh the-way place to-which-it is readily removed from the location in, which it is used. 5

A particular object is to produce a foldable structure of simple characterand economically, manufactured yet possessing the requisite rigidi ty whenset up forpse and havingonly a single transverse seam at themiddle thereof.-

Afurtherobject islto provide fixed elements at oppositesidesofrthe table and'coincident with the transverse seam thereof for ,supporting an 5 ordinary tabletennis netpr the like in normal set-up, relation to the table top when the latter,

is opened forvuse andalso whereby the net may bekept in place onsaid-suPPQIting elements when the table is folded-to closedposition.

.Other; objects and advantages to be attained will hereinafter more fully appear.

The-invention consists in the general structureand inwthe particular parts and combinations and arrangements of; parts thereof, as hereinafter described and setforth in-the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a practical adaptation of the invention, and, in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of the table as 40 opened and set up for use, theend portion of one panelor section and theassociated supporting elements thereof being broken away and re moved-g v Figure 21s a fragmentary section taken on or about the line 2-2 of Figure 1;.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the adjacent top panels or sections of the table foldedto closed position and the endpor tions of the panels ortsectionsflremote from the hinged portions resting on the supporting base portions of the pedestal frame;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transversesectional viewof the upper portion of the pedestal frame at or about the middle thereof and illustrating portions of one ofv the top panels or sections and the 'foldable supporting leg-frame thereof; and Figure 5 is a view showing cooperative portions of the pedestal frame and top panels or sections detached from each other.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 5 l designates, generally, a middle pedestal frame comprising vertical end members 2 which are rigidly secured at their lower ends to transverse base members 3 which latter are rigidly connected at their opposite ends by longitudinal bars 4, said bars being preferably of rectangular cross section and joined to the transverse base members3 by suitable mortise and tenon pro" vision, as at 5, and fastened by any obvious additional means such as bracket members or the like, or they may be otherwise joined. The upper end portions of the end members 2 of the pedestal frame are connected bya flat horizontal beam member 6 which is mortised into the-respective vertical members of the frame, as at l there being two beam members 8 placed on, edge'in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of the horizontal beam member 6 with their end portions fastened in any suitablemanner to adjacent upper edge portions of the vertical members 2 and their top edge portions being substantially flush with the upperendsof said vertical members 2.

As shown, the flat horizontal beam member 6 of thepedestal frame is provided near its opposite ends and adjacent the inner side faces of the vertical end members 2 with guide bushings 9 which may be fastened in place by any suitable means, preferably a set screw as conventionally indicated at In in Figure 2 of the drawing. Each of the guide bushings 9 is extended with considerable elongation below the supporting beam member 6 and said beam member is preferably reinforced bya block ll secured on its underside and surrounding the bushing 9 so as to afford a more 4 stable support for the bushing and resistance to lateral thrusts on the bushing.

Slidably fitted in the guide bushings 9 are vertical rods I 2 having flanged heads 13 at their upper ends to support and guide a vertically movable rectangular plate or sub-panel member 14 which is considerably wider than the distance across the two side beam members 8 of the pedestal frame, and of a length so as to overhang the vertical members 2 of the pedestal frame and Y projecting a considerable distance beyond the outer side faces of said vertical members 2. In the-lowered position of the rectangular plate or sub-panel member I 4, in the opened positionof thetalole top panels or sections to be presently iii are attached to the frame.

the boards of the respective panels or sections iii are fastened at their outer end and opposite side margins to rectangular frames comprising members ll of rectangular cross section and vertically disposed. The continuity of the rectangular frames for the panels or sections it is completed by an inner transverse member H which connects the two side members of the frame some distance short of the inner end of the panel or section l6 and substantially coincident with the axes of the hinges l5, said frame members i l being reinforced by blocks I?" in the region where the respective hinges In this connection, it is noted that the distance between the frame members H and the inner ends of the panels or sections i6 is such that said ends will meet in abutting relation to each other at a middle seam H3 in the openedposition of said panels or sections is as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. I

The top panels or sections it are provided at their meeting ends with frame members or cleats is which are disposed flatwise on the panels, or, in other words, they are horizontally disposed instead of vertically as are the side and end frame members i! and H. These frame members or cleats l8 meet edgewise in abutting contact with each other and they are each of a 'of the panels or sections 16 and the two panels are maintained flush with each other throughout the entire length of the seam l6.

In the closed condition of the table, the plate member or sub-panel M is raised until the panels or sections I6 are folded downwardly therefrom and inwardly to a vertical position where their lower ends rest on the adjacent end portions of the transverse base members 3, of the pedestal frame, the folding of the panels or sections it to. such vertical closed position being effected automatically by the raising of the plate member or sub-panel M, which latter is guided by its rod members 12 sliding in theguide bushings 9 of the pedestal frame, and during such upward movement of said member I I the lower ends of the panels or sections I6 ride on the floor or surface on which the table is located, for which purpose the panels or sections l6 are provided with casters l9 which ride on the floor or supporting surface and up inclined trackways comprising metal strips bent angularly to conform to the beveled end portions of said transverse base members 3 on which the trackways are located, said trackways having upturned stop shoulders 24 at their inner ends and against which the casters l9 comev to rest in the final closed position of the panels or sections l6. After the panels or sections l6 are thus positioned on the upper horizontal portions of the trackways 20 the plate member or sub-panel I4 is eased downwardly until the folded table is supported on the lower ends of the panels or sections I6 (see Figure 3).

In the opened condition of the table the ends of the panels or sections 16 remote from the middle pedestal frame I are supported on foldable leg-frames 22 said frames comprising legs 23 hinged at 'one end to theinnerj sides of the side frame members I! of the panel or section l6, said legs 23 being connected by across member 24. The pivotal axis of the leg-frame 22 is located preferably some distance inwardly from the end of panel or section I6, as at 25, and the frame is braced in its opened position by a collapsible diagonal stay '26, it being, of course, understood that the frame is collapsed and folded up under the panel or section I6 so that the adjacent end of the panel or section l6 may be lowered with its casters I9 in engagement with the floor or surface on which the table is located prior to the raising of the middle plate member or sub-panel {M in the closing of the table as hereinabove described.

The meeting corner portions of the panels or sections l6 of the table top are cut out rectangularly, as at 21 (see Figure 5), for the'accommodation of blocks 28 provided at the opposite ends of the plate member or sub-panel l4 medially thereof, said blocks being generally rectangular and of a length substantially the same as that of the respective recesses 21 and extending some distance beyond the ends proper of said plate member or sub-panel l4 and resting upon squared lug extensions 28' of saidmember 14 corresponding to the thickness of the side frame members I! of the panels or sections l6 and also of a height above the top face of the member I4, so that, in the opened condition of the table, the tops of the blocks 28 are flush with the adjacenttop face portions of said panels or sections IE, it being also understood that the blocks are each of a thickness to fit rather snugly between the elongated sides of the recesses 27, and at the same time the meeting ends of the side frame members I! are. brought in abutting relation to the projected end portions of the blocks and are flush therewith at their outer sides. This not only makes for a neat finishing effect in the opened position of the panels or sections l6, but said blocks 28 afford a solid supporting element on which supporting brackets 29 for a table tennis net 30 may be securely clamped, as at 3| (see Figures 1 and 4) From the foregoing it is clearly apparent that a foldable table is produced having an extensive playing or workingsurface which is uninterrupted throughout the entire extent thereof by a seam or seams which might interfere with or be detrimental to the rebounding of a ball in the playing of a game of table tennis or ping-pong" as such game is commonly termed, or in interference with any other character of play or use which requires an extensive and uninterrupted surface, it being noted that the single seam, located as it is, coincident with the vertical plane of the net 30, offers no interference with uses or plays as above outlined. There is a further advantage in the provision of the filler blocks 28 and the cooperative end lugs 28' which the outer ends of the blocks overlap, in that not only is a firm support provided for the net-attaching brackets 29, but said brackets, with the net supported thereon, may remain in place on the plate member or sub-panel l4 when the table is folded to closed condition, it being obvious that there will be only slight, if any, projection of the brackets or the attached net above the adjacent upper ends of the table top panels I6 in the vertical closed positions of the latter.

To facilitate the portability of the table in its folded condition, the pedestal frame may be provided with any suitablearrangement of casters or rollers. As shown, casters 32 are provided on the under sides of the end portions of the base members 3 (see Figures 1 and 3). It is further pointed out that the table top panels l6 may be additionally reinforced by any suitable arrangement of frame members or cleats (not shown) disposed between the herein described side end frame members or cleats wherever necessary on the under sides of said panels.

While the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing embodies a practical adaptation of the invention, it is obvious that considerable modification may be made therein within the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention, therefore, is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding table of the character described, comprising a medial transverse pedestal frame, a vertically movable supporting element on said pedestal frame, a pair of cooperating table top panels hingedly mounted inwardly from their inner ends whereby their inner ends meet in abutting relation to each other medially of said supporting element and flush with each other in a horizontal opened position, said panels being rectangularly recessed at their meeting corner portions, and block members located medially on the opposite end portions of said supporting element and respectively proportioned to fill the space produced by the recessed corner portions of said panels in the opened position of the panels and being flush with the adjacent top and side face portions of the panels.

2. A folding table of the character described, comprising a medial transverse pedestal frame including vertical end members extending upwardly from transverse base members, longitudinal members connecting the end portions of said base members, a horizontal beam element connecting the upper ends of said vertical end memhers of the pedestal frame, vertical guide means on said beam element inwardly adjacent said vertical end members of the pedestal frame, a rectangular supporting panel having depending rods mounted to slide longitudinally in said guide means on said beam element, a pair of cooperating table top panels hingedly mounted inwardly from their inner ends on the opposite longitudinal marginal portions of said supporting panel whereby the inner ends of said table top panels meet in direct abutting relation and substantially flush with each other in a horizontal opened position of the panels, in which opened position the adjacent under portions of the table top panels are supported on top of said supporting panel and said supporting panel is lowered to rest on said beam element of the pedestal frame, said table top panels being each foldable to a vertical closed position with their outer ends resting on the end portions of the transverse base members of the pedestal frame and said table top panels, by their hinged attachment to said supporting panel, supporting the latter in a raised position above said pedestal frame.

3. A folding table of the character described, comprising a medial transverse pedestal frame including vertical end members extending upwardly from transverse base members, longitudinal members connecting the end portions of said base members, a horizontal beam element connecting the upper ends of said vertical end mem-- bers of the pedestal frame, vertical guide means on said beam element inwardly adjacent said vertical end members of the pedestal frame, a rectangular supporting panel having depending rods mounted to slide longitudinally in said guide means on said beam element, a pair of cooperating table top panels hingedly mounted inwardly from their inner ends on the opposite longitudinal marginal portions of said supporting panel whereby the inner ends of said table top panels meet in direct abutting relation and substantially flush with each other in a horizontal opened position of the panels, in which opened position the adjacent under portions of the table top panels are supported on top of said supporting panel and said supporting panel is lowered to rest on said beam element of the pedestal frame, said table top panels being each foldable to a vertical closed postion with their outer ends resting on the endv portions of the transverse base members of the pedestal frame and said table top panels, by their hinged attachment to said supporting panel, supporting the latter in a raised position above said pedestal frame, the meeting corner portions of said table top panels being rectan gularly recessed, and block members of general rectangular form located medially on the opposite end portions of said supporting panel, said block members being proportioned to fill the space produced by the recessed corner portions of the table top panels and being flush with the adjacent top and side face portions of said panels in their opened position.

4. A folding table of the character described, comprising a medial transverse pedestal frame, an elongated vertically movable supporting element mounted on said pedestal frame and extending lengthwise thereof from side to side of the table, and a pair of table top panels hingedly mounted transversely and inwardly from their inner ends on opposite longitudinal sides of said elongated supporting element whereby their inner ends meet in abutting relation to each other medially above said supporting element and flush with each other in a horizontal opened position with the supporting element lowered on the pedestal frame, and foldable supports on said table top panels adjacent the outer ends thereof for supporting them in their opened position, said table top panels being foldable each to a vertical closed position with its lower end portion resting supportedly on an adjacent portion of the pedestal frame and with the supporting element elevated on the pedestal frame.

WALTER W. SWETT. 

